The lure of the unknown and the lore of the hidden things have long intrigued the human mind. Along with such skills as throwing rocks and fashioning flintstone spearheads, primitive man developed more subtle crafts, as foretelling the weather by the ways the birds flew or the winds blew. From those beginnings came modern sciences like ballistics and meteorology and the same applies in many other instances.

Two factors were present in most primitive sciences; the psychic and the occult. The practitioner of a craft usually claimed and often believed that he possessed a special faculty not given to ordinary mortals, enabling to gain unique results and issue reliable forecasts. He backed this by professing knowledge of secret subjects which he was pledged not to reveal.

This combination of psychic power and occult learning has persisted into modern times. Skilled artists often regard their work as “inspired” or rely on “trade secrets” for results. So the pattern is similar, even though many things that once created awe and wonderment are explainable by modern science. Now the cycle may be bringing us to new wonders, perhaps including some revivals from the past.

The science of alchemy, which flourished in the Middle Ages, has been styled the “FATHER OF CHEMISTRY,” and it is interesting to note that the efforts of the alchemists to transmute one metal into another have been realized in our modern laboratories, though not as the alchemists anticipated. But that should not reflect too greatly on alchemy, for according to some authorities, it was not the alchemists, but their initiators, who stumbled upon the more important discoveries that founded modern chemistry.

Similarly, astrology, as the forerunner of astronomy, may have had its faults. But any absurdities of astrologers were outmatched by the erroneous theories held by the astronomers, until the invention of the telescope proved that they were wrong.

This is not a defense of outmoded beliefs founded on ignorance and superstition. It is all the more reason why such notions should be discarded as they have often been. But theories that have an intelligent basis, those that have stood the test of time and gained popular acceptance, were and are worthy of continued consideration. Had they not been, chemistry, astronomy, and other modern sciences would have died in infancy, whenever some new finding disproved the old.

There are right things; and wrong things. Columbus, with an intention to discover India, sailed westwards and landed in American islands and he thought that he had discovered East Indians; today, the Caribbean Islands are called the West Indies, which is a classic misnomer. But nobody doubts their existences.

As to psychic and occult sciences, those that have won continued interest are worthy of consideration, as astrology or numerology. So are those that have sprung to public acceptance as graphology and psysiognomy, which are newer than some of our standard sciences. All these have to be discussed on their merits.

Each psychic or occult science is treated as it stands today, in the light of modern knowledge and interest. All have been simplified and updated day by day. It is better to list the so called psychic or occult sciences:

Aeromancy, or divination from the air and sky, goes beyond the weather prognostications and concentrates more upon cloud shapes, comets, spectral formations or other phenomena not normally visible in the heavens. Even in modern times, such visions have caused speculation and consternation among viewers.

Alchemy is the science of transmuting base metals into gold or silver with the aid of a mysterious substance termed the “philosopher’s stone.” Alchemists also claimed to prolong human life indefinitely by means of a secret elixir.

Alectryomancy is a form of divination whereby a bird, usually a black hen or a white gamecock, is allowed to pick grains of corn from a circle of letters, thus forming words or names with prophetic significance. Another method is to recite the letters of the alphabet, noting those at which a cock crows.

Aleuromancy requires slips with answers to questions. These are rolled in balls of dough, which are backed, then mixed. One is chosen at random and presumably will be fulfilled. Modern “fortune cookies” are a survival of this ancient ritual.

ALOMANCY or divination by salt, accounts for some of our modern superstitions. Alomancy (from Greek halo, ’salt’, and manteia, divination), also called Adromancy, ydromancie, idromancie, and halomancy, is an ancient form of divination. Similar to many other forms of divination, the diviner casts salt crystals into the air and interprets the patterns as it falls to the ground or travels through the air. The diviner can also interpret patterns formed from the residue of a salt solution as it evaporates in the bowl. The exact interpretations are unknown, but it probably follows a similar method to aleuromancy. Salt itself is often intertwined with luck and some of this ancient tradition can be seen in the superstitions, such as perceived misfortune when the salt cellar is overturned and the custom of throwing salt over the left shoulder for good luck. One form of Alomancy consists of the casting of salt into a fire, which is considered a type of Pyromancy.

Alphitomancy (from Greek alphito, ‘barley’, and manteia, ‘divination’) is a form of divination involving barley cakes or loaves of barley bread.

When someone in a group was suspected of a crime, the members of the group would be fed barley cakes or slices of barley bread. Supposedly, the guilty party would get indigestion, while all others would feel well. Some say that Alphitomancy is a form of divination using a barley leaf. It is used to identify a thief or criminal. Pieces of the leaf were given to a group of suspects. If you were innocent you would feel no effects, but if you were guilty you would become sick.

ANTHROPOMANCY is an ancient and long-outlawed form of human sacrifice. Anthropomancy was a barbaric form of divination that involved using human entrails. These were usually those of a young virgin child.

The magician Julian the Apostate sacrificed young children during his rituals in order to evaluate their entrails. Anthropomancy was also practised in ancient Egypt.

APANTOMANCY covers forecasts from chance meetings with animals, birds and other creatures, which can be updated to include modern omens of the “black cat” variety. A classic case was the founding of Mexico City on the spot where AZTEC soothsayers saw an eagle flying from a cactus, carrying a live snake; this represents the Mexican coat-of-arms even today.

Apantomancy is divination using articles at hand or things that present themselves by chance. The diviner works him/herself into a state of trance until an object or event is perceived and a divination worked out.

ARITHMANCY or ARITHMOMANCY is the ancient form of NUMEROLOGY and applies chiefly to divination through numbers and letter values. Arithmancy is a method of divination by numbers first used by the ancient Greeks. They assigned values to the letters in the names of combatants to foretell the outcome of battles. Later, in the ninth century BC, the Chaldeans in Arabia (where our modern number system also comes from) practiced a form of arithmancy that divided their alphabet into three parts, each part composed of seven letters which they attributed to the then known seven planets. Wizards still use a similar system today, all these thousands of years later.

ASTRAGLOMANCY or ASTRAGYROMANCY was worked with crude dice bearing letters and later numbers. This, too, has developed into a modern diversion, art of Fortune Telling by Dice.

ASTROLOGY, as the ancient science of the stars, was basically a form of divination, as persons who could foretell changes in the heavens naturally felt capable of predicting the smaller affairs of mankind. Modern astrology makes no such extravagant claims, but has retained enough of the old tradition to become a fascinating subject in its own right. Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the relative positions of celestial bodies and related information is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing knowledge about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial events. A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer, or, less often, an astrologist.

Historically, the term mathematicus was used to denote a person proficient in astrology, astronomy, and mathematics. Although the two fields share a common origin, modern astronomy is entirely distinct from astrology. While astronomy is the scientific study of astronomical objects and phenomena, the practice of astrology is concerned with the correlation of heavenly bodies (which historically involved measurement of the celestial sphere) with earthly and human affairs. Astrology is variously considered by its proponents to be a symbolic language, a form of art, science, or divination. The scientific community generally considers astrology to be a pseudo science or superstition as it has failed empirical tests in controlled studies.

AUGURY is the general art of divination, covering many forms included in this list, and applying chiefly to interpretations of the future based on signs and omens. The Augur was a priest and official in ancient Rome. His main role was to take auspices: interpreting the will of the gods by studying the flight of the birds (flying in groups/alone, what noises they make as they fly, direction of flight and what kind of birds they are), known as “taking the auspices.” The ceremony and function of the augur was central to any major undertaking in Roman society–public or private–including matters of war, commerce, and religion.

Consider the words of the Roman historian Livy, who writes (VI.41): “Who does not know that this city was founded only after taking the auspices? That everything in war and in peace, at home and abroad, was done only after taking the auspices?”

AUSTROMANCY refers to divination, by a study of the winds.

Axiomancy is a form of divination, in which the diviner interprets the quivering of the blade of an axe that has been thrust into a wooden table.

Both the Greeks and the Arabs used Belomancy, one of the most ancient types of divination. One method involved throwing the arrows in the air, the point in which the arrows inclined pointed out the direction to be taken.

Bibliomancy is divination using a book, sometimes a bible is used. The book will be opened at a random page and while keeping your eyes closed you will point at a line or passage in the book. Muslims use the Quran for this divination. During the middle ages Virgils Aeneid was popular.

Botanomancy, is a method of divination by burning branches of vervein and briar upon which questions of the practitioners have been carved. The fire and smoke indicate the course of future action to be pursued. A variant method is the scattering of verve in and heather leaves in a high wind to get indications of future actions to be taken.

Bumpology is nickname of Phrenology, a science which studies the relationships between a person’s character and the morphology of the skull. It is a very ancient object of study. The first philosopher to locate mental faculties in the head was in fact Aristoteles.

Capnomancy is the study of smoke rising from a fire and is performed in various ways. When they study the motion of smoke, they will be able to get a glimpse into the future and be able to give you predictions of what might happen. Be sure that you listen to the different predictions and then utilize them to make your life a lot better. It will be good to understand the motion of smoke.

Cartomancy is fortune telling with cards and is similar to Tarot readings.

Catoptromancy was an early form of crystal gazing, utilizing a mirror that was turned towards moon to catch lunar rays. Place the mirror at the back of the head of a boy or girl whose eyes were bandaged. In Thessaly, the response reportedly appeared in characters of blood on the face of the moon, probably represented in the mirror. The Thessalian sorceresses derived their art from the Persians, who always endeavored to plant their religion and mystic rites in the countries they invaded.

Causimomancy involves divination from objects placed in a fire. If they fail to ignite, or burn more slowly than anticipated, it is a good omen. Common pieces that have been used in this practice include salt, animals, sticks, incense and leaves.

Cephalomancy refers to divinatory procedures with the skull or head of a donkey or goat.

Ceraunoscopy draws omens from the study of thunder & lightning.

Ceroscopy is a fascinating form of divination in which melted wax is poured into cold water, forming bubbles, which are duly interpreted. This was very popular in Russia. Wax was melted into a brass vessel till it became a liquid of uniform consistence. The liquid wax was then poured very slowly into another vessel filled with cold water. The pouring was done in a way that the wax congealed in tiny discs upon the surface of the water. The divinator then interpreted the figures of wax.

Chiromancy, or divination from the lines of a person’s hand, is the companion of Chirognomy; these compose modern Palmistry. The lines in the hand can be divided into 3 groups: the major lines, the minor lines and the personal lines. There are 3 major lines to be found in the hand. These are the Life Line, the Heart Line and the Head Line. The minor lines run vertically in the hand and each is named for the finger under which it terminates. Everything else is considered a personal line. The personal lines may have names and fit into categories though there may be some lines that are quite unique to the individual. It is through practice and experience that the palmist can learn how to interpret these lines.

Clairaudience or clear hearing and Clairvoyance or clear seeing is also twin subjects with divinatory features. This is receiving messages in thoughtform from another frequency or realm. It is considered a form of channeling. These have come under modern parapsychology, which regards them as forms of ESP (Extrasensory perception).

Cleromancy is a form of lot casting akin to divination with pebbles or other odd objects with different colors instead of marked cubes. These objects are considered as planets.

Clidomancy or Cleidomancy is worked with a dangling key and movements of the key is interpreted accordingly.

Cosinomancy is similar, using a hanging sieve. These are primitive forms of radiesthesia.

Critomancy is the study of barley cakes with the hope of drawing omens from them. Ancient method of divination by means of observing meats and cakes. The paste of cakes that were offered in sacrifice was closely examined, and from the flour spread upon them, omens were drawn, after being strewn upon sacrificial victims.

Cromniomancy finds significance from onion sprouts. It was usually practiced on Christmas eve to obtain information about absent persons. One method was to inscribe the names of absent friends on individual onions and leave them undisturbed on a table until they began to sprout. The onion that sprouted most rapidly indicated that the person whose name had been inscribed on it was enjoying vigorous health.

Crystallomancy is an art of crystal gazing.

Cyclomancy pertains to divination from a turning wheel. Cyclomancy is the practice of divination where one consults a spinning object, like a wheel, bottle, or top. One form of consultation is direction. When needed, take a bottle and lay it horizontally on the ground, and spin. When it stops spinning, the neck of the bottle will point to the road where your destiny lies. The popular party game “spin the bottle” is based on this concept.

Dactylomancy is the early form of radiesthesia, with a dangling ring indicating words and numbers by its swings.

Daphnomancy requires listening to laurel branches crackling in an open fire; the louder the crackle, the better the omen.

Demonomancy refers to divinations through the aid of demons.

Dendromancy is associated with both the oak and mistletoe. Divining rods and Dowsing are dealt with in the chapter on Radiesthesia.

Gastromancy was an ancient form of ventriloquism, with the voice lowered to a sepulchral tone as though issuing from the ground. Prophetic utterances were thus delivered in a trance state.

Geloscopy was the art of divination from the tone of someone’s laughter.

Genethlialogy was the calculation of the future from the influence of the stars at birth.

Geomancy began with tracing figures in the ground and later was extended to include random dots made with a pencil, which were interpreted according to accepted designs, practically a predecessor of our modern “doodles.”

Graphology, the analysis of character through handwriting, was studied in ancient times and given a psychic significance. Its modern version is detailed in a special chapter.

Gyromancy was performed by persons walking in a circle marked with letters, until they became dizzy and stumbled at different points, thus “spelling out” a prophecy.

Halomancy is another term for Alomancy, or divination by salt.

Haruspicy, Hieromancy, Hieroscopy, all had to do with observing objects of ancient sacrifice and drawing prophetic conclusions from them.

Hippomancy was a form of divination from the stamping and neighing of horses.

Horoscopy pertains to the casting of an astrological horoscope.

Hydromancy, or divination by water, covers a wide range of lesser auguries, such as the color of water, its ebb and flow, or the ripples produced by pebbles dropped into a pool, an odd number being good, an even number, bad. Our modern “Tea leaf” and “coffee ground” readings date from this, as Hydromancy also included close study of water and figures formed therein.

Ichthyomancy involved fish as factors in divination.

Lampadomancy signifies portents from lights or torches.

Lecanomancy involved a basin of water in the divinatory process; while Libanomancy requires incense as a means of interpreting omens.

Lithomancy utilizes precious stones of various colors. In its more modern form of divination, these are scattered on a flat surface, and whichever reflects the light most vividly fulfills the omen.

Blue – good luck soon.

Green – realization of a hope.

Red – happiness in love or marriage.

Yellow – disaster or betrayal.

Purple – a period of sadness.

Black or grey – misfortune.

Colored beads may be used instead of jewels.

Margaritomancy was a procedure utilizing pearls, which were supposed to bounce upward beneath an inverted pot if a guilty person approached.

Metagnomy is a comparatively modern form of intuitive divination covering past, distant scenes of present, and future events while viewed during a hypnotic trance.

Meteoromancy lists omens dependent on meteors and similar phenomena.

Metoposcopy is the reading of character from the lines of the forehead. Based on Astrology, it has factors akin to Palmistry, but belongs under the head of Physiognomy.

Molybdomancy draws mystic inferences from the varied hissings of molten lead.

Myomancy concerns rats and mice, the cries they give, the destruction they cause, all as prophetic tokens.

Numerology, though of ancient origin, is a modern form of interpreting names and dates in terms of vital numbers, all indicative of individual traits.

Oculomancy is a form of divination from the eyes.

Oinomancy utilizes wine in determining omens.

Oneiromancy is the interpretation of dreams.

Onomancy answers the question of “what’s in a name” by giving meanings for names of persons and things, but has comparatively little importance as a divinatory art.

Onomantics is a development of Onomancy, applied to personal names. Some of these are obvious in meaning, as Hope, or Victor. Others are easily translatable, as Sophia for wisdom, or Leo for lion-hearted. Others have been extended or elaborated, but their basic meanings can be found in many dictionaries or standard reference works, and they lack the deeper significance of psychic or occult interpretation.

Onychomancy is a study of the fingernails in the sunlight, looking for any significant symbols that can be traced.

Onyomancy is similar and somewhat more practical, being an interpretation of personal characteristics from the nails, as a minor phase of Palmistry.

Oomantia and Ooscopy are terms applied to ancient methods of divination by eggs.

Ophiomancy covers divination from serpents.

Orniscopy and Ornithomancy are concerned with omens gained by watching the flight of different birds.

Ovomancy is another form of egg divination.

Palmistry is one of the most interesting of psychic sciences and has reached a high state of modern development. Long known as the “language of the hand,” it interprets the lines and general formations according to well-accepted rules.

Palmistry is one of the most interesting of psychic sciences and has reached a high state of modern development. Long known as the “language of the hand,” it interprets the lines and general formations according to well-accepted rules.

Pegomancy requires spring water or bubbling fountains for its divinations.

Pessomancy requires pebbles for its divinations.

Phrenology, which deals in head formations, is a modern form of psychic science.

Phrenopathy is a similar subject incorporating hypnotism.

Phyllorhodomancy is an intriguing type of divination dating from ancient Greece. It consists of slapping rose petals against the hand and judging the success of a venture according to the loudness of the sound.

Physiognomy is highly modern in its treatment and deals with character analysis through physical appearance of the features. It has older roots, but all of a practical nature.

Precognition is an inner knowledge of things to come, which may lead to Prediction, which is the announcement of such events, or Premonition, a foreboding of the future. These are combined in Prognostication, which goes into specific details, or the greater art of Prophecy, which connotes inspired knowledge of important events, with their fulfillment almost certain.

Psychography is a form of mysterious writing, usually of a divinatory type.

Psychometry is the faculty of gaining impressions from a physical object, either regarding its owner, or the history of the object itself.

Pyromancy and Pyroscopy are forms of divination by fire, wherein powdered substances are thrown on the flames; if these kindle quickly, it is a good omen.

Rhabdomancy is divination by means of a wand or stick. Of ancient origin, much of its history is obscure, but it was the forerunner of the divining rod, discussed in the chapter on Radiesthesia.

Rhapsodomancy is performed by opening a book of poetry and reading a passage at chance, hoping it will prove to be an omen.

Sciomancy is a term for divination gained through spirit aid.

Sideromancy is the burning of straws on a hot iron and studying the figures thus formed, along with the flames and smoke.

Sortilege is the casting of lots in hope of a good omen; this has many phases and variations dating from antiquity and is still practiced today.

Spodomancy provides omens from cinders or soot.

Stichomancy is another form of opening a book hoping that a random passage will give inspiration, something that many people follow today.

Stolisomancy draws omens from oddities in the way people dress.

Sycomancy is performed by writing messages on tree leaves; the slower they dry, the better the omen. A more modern way is to write questions on slips of paper, roll them up, and hold them in a strainer above a steaming pot. Whichever unrolls first will be answered; but a blank slip should always be included in the group.

Tephramancy is the seeking of messages in ashes; tree bark is often burned for that purpose and the diviner looks for symbols as with tealeaves.

Tiromancy is an odd form of divination utilizing cheese.

Xylomancy is divination from pieces of wood. Some diviners pick them up at random, interpreting them according to their shape or formation. Others put pieces of wood upon a fire and note the order in which they burn, forming conclusions as to omens, good or bad.